School Bus Stop Adventure

Adventure (noun) An exciting, often hazardous undertaking

Now that the weather has warmed, the little ones and I walk to the bus stop to get big brother. It's not far, about three houses down the street, but who knew there were so many exciting things that could happen in that short distance.

Just going from the front door to the street can take quite awhile because there are birds in our yard that need sneaking up on. There are ants that need to be watched. There are cracks in the sidewalk that only big people are allowed to step on. There's the jungle down by the mailbox that needs to get explored.

Then we hit the street and another whole world opens up. There are rocks to pick up and move, branches to step on, curbs to walk on, more ants, more birds and more cracks to avoid. There are "flowers" (dandelions) to pick for mommy because I am loved so much. The pine cones are treasures that bring such delight they can hardly contain themselves.

We finally make it to bus stop and the stop sign becomes home base for a game of tag. The pebbles in the street become gems and currency in a world that only three and four year olds are part of.

Oh how I wish I could I could see things the way they do. At what point in our lives do we stop? I believe the day we give birth, our views change. The birds in the yard could carry disease, the ants could bite, the jungle could have poison ivy, the dandelions are back already?, they could trip on a crack and the pine cones are REALLY sticky. The stop sign means cars are near by, they could slip on the pebbles and they could fall off the curb and twist their ankles.

I so enjoy watching them have their adventures and I try not to sound too much like a mother... "be careful, don't touch that, watch where you're walking, don't run..." But of all the hats I wear, teacher and protector are two of the biggest. I've also found I learn so much from them as well, like how a short, simple walk to the bus stop can be the best part of the day.